Previous efforts to control cellular behaviour have largely relied upon various forms of genetic engineering. Once the genetic content of a living cell is modified, the behaviour of that cell typically changes as well. However, other methods of cellular control are possible. All cells sense and respond to their environment. Therefore, artificial, non-living cellular mimics could be engineered to activate or repress already existing natural sensory pathways of living cells through chemical communication. Here we describe the construction of such a system. The artificial cells expand the senses of Escherichia coli by translating a chemical message that E. coli cannot sense on its own to a molecule that activates a natural cellular response. This methodology could open new opportunities in engineering cellular behaviour without exploiting genetically modified organisms.

Integrating artificial with natural cells to translate chemical messages that direct E. coli behaviour / Lentini, Roberta; S. P., Santero; Chizzolini, Fabio; Cecchi, Dario; J., Fontana; M., Marchioretto; Del Bianco, Cristina; J. L., Terrell; Spencer, Amy; Martini, Laura; Forlin, Michele; M., Assfalg; M., Dalla Serra; W. E., Bentley; Mansy, Sheref Samir. - In: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. - ISSN 2041-1723. - ELETTRONICO. - 5:(2014), p. 4012. [10.1038/ncomms5012]

Integrating artificial with natural cells to translate chemical messages that direct E. coli behaviour

Lentini, Roberta;Chizzolini, Fabio;Cecchi, Dario;Del Bianco, Cristina;Spencer, Amy;Martini, Laura;Forlin, Michele;Mansy, Sheref Samir
2014-01-01

Abstract

Previous efforts to control cellular behaviour have largely relied upon various forms of genetic engineering. Once the genetic content of a living cell is modified, the behaviour of that cell typically changes as well. However, other methods of cellular control are possible. All cells sense and respond to their environment. Therefore, artificial, non-living cellular mimics could be engineered to activate or repress already existing natural sensory pathways of living cells through chemical communication. Here we describe the construction of such a system. The artificial cells expand the senses of Escherichia coli by translating a chemical message that E. coli cannot sense on its own to a molecule that activates a natural cellular response. This methodology could open new opportunities in engineering cellular behaviour without exploiting genetically modified organisms.
2014
Lentini, Roberta; S. P., Santero; Chizzolini, Fabio; Cecchi, Dario; J., Fontana; M., Marchioretto; Del Bianco, Cristina; J. L., Terrell; Spencer, Amy;...espandi
Integrating artificial with natural cells to translate chemical messages that direct E. coli behaviour / Lentini, Roberta; S. P., Santero; Chizzolini, Fabio; Cecchi, Dario; J., Fontana; M., Marchioretto; Del Bianco, Cristina; J. L., Terrell; Spencer, Amy; Martini, Laura; Forlin, Michele; M., Assfalg; M., Dalla Serra; W. E., Bentley; Mansy, Sheref Samir. - In: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. - ISSN 2041-1723. - ELETTRONICO. - 5:(2014), p. 4012. [10.1038/ncomms5012]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/100824
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